harris



3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

GAR BRAKE.

Patented Mary 188 www www

N. PETERS Phuurulhagnpher. washmgmmvn,

(No Model.)

A. E. HARRIS.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. A. E. HARRIS.

GAR BRAKE.

Patented May 8, 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED E. HARRIS, OF MILE END ROAD, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND.

CAR-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,274, dated May 8,1883u t Application led January 13.1883. (No model.) Patented in EnglandJune 6,1S82,No.2,657; in France December 5, 188:2, No. 152,462, and inBelgium December T, 1882, No. 59,769.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ALFRED ELLls HARRIS, a subject ot the Queen of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at Mile End Road, in the conntyofMiddlesex, Kingdom of GreatBritain and Ireland, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Railway-Brakes, (for which I have obtained apatent in Great Britain, No. 2,657, bearin g date June 6, 1882,) ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a continuous automatic railway-brake wherein thearrestation or retardation of rotation of the wheels of the vehicle iseffected by friction-clutches, whereof one part is on the axle ot' thevehicle and the other is carried in an attachment or attachments to theframe of the vehicle. To operate these friction-clutches I provide anarrangement of levers working on pins or pivots, and provided with meanstending to move apart the free ends of such levers, so as to put the:friction clutches into operation. To release or take oft' the brakes 4Iemploy a sliding device or frame that acts on inclined portions of (orattachments to) the said levers. This device or frame is operated by anarrangement of rods and levers, which can be brought into action bymeans of a worm and worm-wheel arranged on a spindle carrying a pulley,which operates a chain connected to the arrangement of rods and levers,whereby the sliding device p or frame (which is suitably guided) isworked.

In the event of a train becoming accidentally divided, or ot' thebrake-connections being interrupted by fracture, the brakes will beautomatically applied.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the lowerpart of a carriage with apparatus according to my invention appliedthereto. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan to a larger scale, showing a portionof the carriage with my apparatus applied to it as seen when lookingfrom below; and Fig. 3 is a similar plan, showing the ends and middle ofthe carriage-framing with the rods and levers for operatin g the brakes.Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section, showing a portion of acarriage with my apparatus applied thereto; and Fig.

5 isa verticallcross-section in the line A B ot' Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is aside elevation of the worm and worm-wheel arrangement for operating thebrakes. Fig? is a plan of the same. Fig. 8 is a front elevation ofapparatus for taking off the brakes by hand when required, and Fig.l 9is a side view of the same.

a a are friction-clutches; formed as male and female frustums of cones.are lit-ted onto the axles ot' the vehicle, so as' (by the use of afeather or equivalent means) to be compelled to revolve therewith; butthey are able t0 slide along the axles, as illustrated in section inFig. 2. The female cones are held between horn plates a a', fixed to theframing of the`vehicle, so that these cones cannot turn but they willpermit ofthe play of the springs by which the body of the vehicle issupported.

b b are levers pivoted to the framing at b' b. The pins or studs formingthe fulera ot' these levers are xed to a cross-frame, and aresufticiently long to allow of the movementof that frame in a vertical Ysense in relation to the axles, so as to allow for the play of thesprings supporting the carriage-body without straining the levers. Theselevers b are for operating the male cones, and at their free ends thetwo levers b, at each side of the vehicle, are connected by a pin on onetaking into a slot in the other, so that these ends ofthe two leversmove together, or approximately so.

In the example illustrated I have shown at c csprings fitted to thei'reeends of the levers b and tending to force these ends apart., andthus to pnt the friction-brakes into operation; but it will be evidentthat for applying the brakes other means well-known-such ascoinpressed-air or vacuum apparatus-may be employed. office of which isto release or take off the brakes. It is provided with anti-frictionrollers e e, bearing upon the levers b, so that when this sliding deviceor framed is moved longitudinally into such a position that itsanti-friction rollers bear against the inclined portions or extensionsof the levers b, then their free ends are caused to approach oneanother, thus moving the male cones out of contact with the female conesby acting upon the sliding sleeves a2 a?, which arev formed with orattached to the said male cones, and with them are carried on the axlesof the vehicle. The sliding The male, cones d isa sliding device orframe, theV IOO vbrake-van at the end ot' a train.

Q when device or frame d is operated by levers, rods, and linksconnected by means of a chain, f, to a pulley, f. This pulley isoperated by means of a worm, g, worm-wheel g', and handle g2, which mayconveniently be placed in a When the pulley f is operated for thepurpose of releasing the brakes, it causes the chain to pull the rod h,and, through the lever It', Fig. 3, rod h2, and lever h3, turns theupright shaft h4,which is connected by means of the arm h5 and link h6to the sliding` device or frame d.

i is a guide for guiding the sliding device or frame d by means of pinsor studsjj.

kis a sliding stop-piece tted in the slotted curved bracket l, whichcarries the spindle of the worm g, so as to bear against the saidspindle to keepthe worm in gear with the wormwheel. The stop 7'- is keptup in the. position shown in the drawings, Fig. 6, by the spring i', andat its lower end (where there is a guiding part or tail i2) is iixed acord or other similar connection,

Upon the train becoming accidentally' divided, or upon thebrake-connections being interrupted by fracture, the said cord will beautomatically pulled, thus pulling down the stop k, whereupon the wormg, pivoted at g2, will, by the action ot' the springs c c on the leversb, be caused to tiy out ot' gear with the worm-wheel g', thus allowingit to run round, and so permitting the brakes to be automaticallyapplied. If the chain connected to the rod h ot' one carriage beconnected to the lever h ofanother carriage, instead of being connectedto apulley,.f, then, if from any cause the two carriages becomeseparated, the brakes of both carriages will be automatically applied.ln this way the brakes ot' all the carriages in a train maybe soconnected that in the event ofthe train dividing at any part all thebrakes will at once be automatically put in operation.

In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown an apparatus fixed to the end of a carriagefor taking oft' and putting on the brakes by hand, when the carriage isslipped or is disconnected from the rest ot' a train for shunting orother purposes. The handle m, upon being turned, winds the chain a ontothe barrel m', which chain is connected by a rod, o, to the lever h3,whereby the sliding device or frame d is operated.

Apparatus worked by vacuum, compressed air, steam, or hydraulic'pressure may be used in lieu of the worm-wheel arrangement, asdescribed', for taking oft' the brakes.

It will be evident that other variations may be made in the mode ofcarrying my invention into practical effect without departure from itsdistinctive characteristics.w For example, the male cones may be carriedby the horn plates a a', and the female cones may be arranged to turnwith the axles, but so as to be movable lengthwise thereof for puttingon and taking oli1 the brakes. Also, instead of making b b levers ofthesecond order, they may be levers of the iirst order, the inclinesbeing reversed, so that d-will force ont the inclined ends to take oftthe conical or other brakes.

It' apparatus worked by compressed'air or' the free ends of the leversb, so as to simultaneously draw inward the ends ot' the four levers orto simultaneously move them outward for putting on or takin g ott' thebrakes, it will be evident the springs Gand sliding device or frame dmay be dispensed with.

lVhat 1 claim is'- l. The combination of the friction-clutches a a,formed as male and female frustums of cones,tl1e axle to which thefirst-named clutch is fitted and on which it slides, and the plates aa', fixed to the framing of the vehicle, so that the clutches cannotturn, substantially as described.

2. In a railway-brake, in combination with frictional coupling devices,levers such as b b, means for moving the same in one direction, and asliding device or frame such as d, for moving said levers in thecontrary direction, substantially as described.

3. A railway-brake comprising maleand females cones a a, levers I; b,springs c c, with inclined parts, sliding device or frame d, and

levers, rods,land links, connected by a chain,

j", to a pulley, f, for operating said sliding device or frame d,substantially as described and illustrated.

' ALFRED ELLIS HARRIS.

lfitnesses:

J. EDW. BEESLEY, WM. THos. MARSHALL, Both 0]'2 Popes' Head Alley,

A Oornht'll, London, Gema.

